Florida Courier - January 4, 2013

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Remembering Trayvon: Parents reflect on son’s life, legacy B1

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JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 10, 2013

VOLUME 21 NO. 1

BY HAZEL TRICE EDNEY TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE

America prepares to commemorate 50 years since the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on Aug. 28, 2013.

But most stories that dominated the Black Press in 2012 foretold a continued quest for racial justice.

The killing of Trayvon Martin; the contempt vote against Attorney General Eric Holder; the Black jobless rate; the fight to maintain voting rights; the contentious re-election bid of President Barack Obama and the rebirth of the debate on gun violence were just a few of the headlined topics in 2012.

They reminded America that Black America has yet to overcome. The following is a synopsis of some of the top stories:

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YEAR IN REVIEW

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES The Black Press stories of 2012 foretell the ongoing push for justice

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/MCT

Vice President Joe Biden congratulates U.S. President Barack Obama on stage on Nov. 6, 2012, in Chicago after the president was re-elected.

President’s re-election

The economy

Concluding a nailbiter of an election that practically spellbound the nation, Obama was re-elected in a decisive Electoral College vote of 332 to 206 against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Nov. 6. As in his historic 2008 victory as the nation’s first African-American president, Obama again won with at least 95 percent of the Black vote.

As 2012 wound down, President Obama and leading members of Congress negotiated intensely to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff” – the simultaneous occurrence of sizable tax hikes and deep spending cuts. AfricanAmericans remain in double-digit unemployment rates and continue as the racial group that has suffered the highest unemployment, lost most wealth and experienced more foreclosures during the economic downturn.

A group of African-American organizational heads, convened

by National Urban League president/CEO Marc Morial, says they will hold Obama accountable for protecting the interests of African-American, his most loyal supporters.

Voter suppression

Gun violence The nation united in grief over 20 first-graders and seven educators killed by mass murderer Adam Lanza, who had also killed his mother before killing himself Dec. 14. The shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary brought tears to Obama, reigniting an old debate over gun laws and mental health care. The discussions are escalating as Vice President Joe Biden will head a committee to suggest possible new legislation.

Representatives of the powerful gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, have called for an armed guard in every school. The tragedy also has shed light on gun violence and deaths of children in cities across the nation, including in Obama’s hometown of Chicago. There, at least 500 homiGARY W/ GREEN/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT cides occurred in 2012. Of those Thousands of demonstrators march during an NAACP rally and march demanding for justice in deaths, at least 270 were teenagers or children. the shooting of Trayvon Martin in Sanford on March 31, 2012.

SNAPSHOTS FLORIDA | A3

Survivors of Everglades plane crash want memorial

Conviction was ‘naked racism’ N.C. governor pardons ‘Wilmington 10’

BY CASH MICHAELS SPECIAL TO NNPA FROM THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL

NATION | B3

2012 Black voter turnout could be historic

FITNESS | B4

A year’s worth of tips for taking small steps to health

ALSO INSIDE

RALEIGH, N.C. – In what civil rights leaders across the nation are calling a significant moment in the civil rights movement, North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue has granted individual pardons of actual innocence to all members of the “Wilmington Ten.” “I have decided to grant these pardons because the more facts I have learned about the Wilmington Ten, the more appalled I have become about the manner in which their convictions were obtained,” Perdue, a Democrat who leaves office on Jan. 5, said in her Dec. 31 statement.

“Justice demands that this stain finally be removed. The process in which this case was tried was fundamentally flawed. Therefore, as Governor, I am issuing these pardons of innocence to right this longstanding wrong.”

Protesters, activists

FINEST | B5

Meet Jas Royale

The Wilmington Ten – nine Black males and one White female – were activists who, along with hundreds of Black students in the New Hanover County Public School System, protested rampant racial discrimination in 1971.

In February of that year, after the arrival of Rev. Benjamin Chavis See 10, Page A2

As America approached the Nov. 6 election, 46 states introduced laws that would require voters to show photo identification, proof of citizenship or a birth certificate in order to vote.

Legislators claimed the measures would prevent voter fraud. But civil rights leaders scoffed and decried the new laws as suppression and intimidation tactics that could have disenfranchised as many as five million Americans.

Because of the diligence of key civil rights organizations such as the NAACP, the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation, and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the apparent plot was exposed and thwarted.

Rodney King dies The accidental drowning death of 47-year-old Rodney King on June 17, 2012 shocked the nation.

King, who died in a swimming pool at a home that he shared with his fiancé, had become a symbol of civil rights 20 years after Los Angeles police viciously beat him during a videotaped traffic stop March 2, 1991.

National outrage and six days of rioting broke out when the police See 2012, Page A2

Farm bill extension in fiscal cliff keeps milk cost low

BY MARGIE MENZEL THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

TALLAHASSEE – The deal between the White House and Congress narrowly approved Tuesday evening by the House to avoid going over the fiscal cliff would extend a 2008 farm law through September 2013.

That will keep milk prices from doubling but leaves other major issues unresolved.

Florida advocates have been worried about the farm bill, in part because of milk prices, but also because of its effect on food aid to the poor.

The extension would ignore comprehensive packages by the agriculture committees of both chambers, including provisions for dairy industry reform, disaster relief and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps.

Disaster aid excluded In June, the full Senate had passed a five-year reauthorization of the 2008 law, but House Speaker John Boehner refused to allow a floor vote on the measure approved by the House Agriculture Committee in July.

The farm bill then got caught up in fiscal cliff negotiations, mainly because without reauthorization by Jan. 1, a 1949 law would have kicked in, requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to buy up dairy products at double the current price.

The agriculture committees had agreed to include a new dairy support program, the Dairy Security Act, in the reauthorization package, along with $850 million in disaster aid. But these provisions were excluded from Tuesday’s deal.

“The Senate’s vote on a ninemonth extension of current farm policy is a devastating blow to the nation’s dairy farmers,” said

COMMENTARY: CHARLES W. CHERRY II: RANDOM THOUGHTS OF A FREE BLACK MIND | A4 COMMENTARY: E. FAYE WILLIAMS: LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREATER NEW YEAR | A4

See BILL, Page A2

FOCUS

A2

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

What should the unemployed do?

In 1992, now Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke – one of the key players in current efforts to reinvigorate the American economy – collaborated with fellow economics professors Andrew Abel and Dean Croushore to author “Macroeconomics.” The book looks at fiscal policy from a “big picture” perspective.

In that textbook, the trio cite a pre-1982 study by Harvey Brenner, which found that there are high personal costs of unemployment that include the deterioration of job skills, reduced selfesteem and stress.

Increased illness, death On a social cost basis, the Brenner study found that a onepercentage point increase in the unemployment rate that is maintained for six years can be associated with 20,000 additional car-

DR. B.B. ROBINSON PROJECT 21

diovascular deaths, 920 suicides, 650 homicides, 4,000 state mental hospital admissions and 3,300 state prison incarcerations.

This shows that there is devastating collateral damage from unemployment. This should be no secret to those who are tasked with finding solutions to America’s unemployment – particularly Bernanke.

Considering that our nation has been embroiled in the current economic crisis for half a decade, and that the same team that presided over the economy for the past four years just won another term, the social problems of un-

employment may continue – creating a clear and present danger to the national well being.

Those without a job right now should take precautions to ensure they don’t become another statistic in addition to being part of the Labor Department’s monthly unemployment report.

If one is unemployed, what can be done to maintain serenity?

The following low-cost (and even no-cost) actions come to mind: • Given the idle time, spend more quality time with immediate family members and ensure that the necessary caring and loving bond remains strong.

• If a family has not already done so, take advantage of time out to perform genealogical research. This can benefit generations to come from historical and health perspectives as well as possibly instill pride in past achievements.

• Engage in costless or nearcostless efforts to improve the surroundings such as conducting repairs around the home and improving the appearance of lawns and gardens. Someone may be unemployed, but the unhappy circumstance doesn’t mean that their surroundings must deterio-

rate as a result.

• Utilize the local library and the Internet to remain fresh in one’s field, or use those resources to prepare for future employment by becoming educated about a new field. Someone who can read and comprehend can expect to be able to learn virtually anything. Prepare for a new job.

• Spend time developing new innovations. A truly good idea can be the seed of future employment options and even the beginning of one’s own business.

• Learn to meditate. A recent study by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicated that Transcendental Meditation showed the potential ability to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes among black Americans.

• Assess eating and drinking habits and make a commitment to modify behavior by eating and drinking in a more healthy fashion. This may even save money in the process.

• Take on the challenge of identifying ways to put money away for later – even in the midst of unemployment. Savings will come in handy should unemployment

YEAR IN REVIEW

from Page 1

officers where initially allowed to walk free. The publicity surrounding King’s sudden death was a stark reminder of inequities that continue against African-Americans in the criminal justice system.

Killing of Trayvon Martin

In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited Whitney Elizabeth Houston as the most awarded female act of all time.

10 from A1 to help lead the protests, racial violence erupted, with White supremacist driving through Wilmington’s Black community, fatally shooting innocent people and committing arson.

A White-owned grocery store in the Black community was firebombed and firemen came under sniper fire. It wasn’t until a year later that Rev. Chavis and the others were rounded up and charged with conspiracy in connection with the firebombing and shootings. The 10 were falsely convicted, and sentenced to 282 years in prison – some of which they each served.

It wouldn’t be until 1977, after years of failed appeals in North Carolina courts, that the three state’s witnesses recanted their testimonies, admitting that they perjured themselves.

Amnesty International issued a blistering report declaring the Wilmington Ten “political prisoners of conscience.” The CBS News program “60 Minutes” did a one-hour expose proving that the prosecution had fabricated the

Dr. B.B. Robinson is a member of the national advisory council of the Project 21 Black leadership network. Contact him via Project21@nationalcenter.org. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Holder found in contempt

2012

The Feb. 26 shooting death of Trayvon Martin has become the quintessential symbol of racial profiling. A Florida judge has set a date of June 10 for the trial of George Zimmerman on charges of seconddegree murder in the shooting. The unarmed 17-year-old was killed as he walked in a gated Sanford community toward his father’s house.

He was wearing a hoodie, carrying a bag of Skittles candy and a can of iced tea. Zimmerman, 29, a selfappointed neighborhood watch-

compensation payments expire.

• Volunteer! Help improve the appearance and safety of the community by doing things such as contributing time to neighborhood beautification efforts or patrolling a neighborhood to improve security.

There are undoubtedly numerous other effective and beneficial ways to spend time while unemployed. These are just a few offerings meant to try to improve the quality of life for those displaced from the workforce and others around town.

Being unemployed may mean that someone doesn’t have the income that they desire, but it doesn’t have to mean that one’s life cannot be a productive, fulfilling and happy one.

RED HUBER/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

Pam, left, and Robert Champion Sr. look at defendant Brian Jones on Oct. 22, 2012 as Jones apologizes to them before being sentenced to probation in an Orlando courtroom in the death of drum major Robert Champion Jr. man, has pleaded not guilty on grounds of self-defense. He claims Martin attacked him after he called police reporting a suspicious youth in the neighborhood.

Compounding the shock, her death came just before the release of her final starring role in the film “Sparkle” which opened in August.

Death of Whitney Houston

Supreme Court upholds ‘Obamacare’

It was undoubtedly the biggest entertainment news of 2012. On the eve of the 54th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 11, Whitney Houston, a six-time Grammy Award winner and one of the most celebrated artists in music history, was found dead. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office determined that she died of drowning as a result of cocaine use. Some still contend her death was the result of foul play and possibly murder.

evidence against the Wilmington Ten.

Pardon refused Then-Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt refused to pardon the Ten, but did commute their sentences in 1978. Two years later, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned all of the convictions, based on gross prosecutorial misconduct and various violations of constitutional rights. The appeals court directed North Carolina to either retry the defendants, or dismiss all charges, but the state did nothing for the next 32 years.

In March 2011, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), at the urging of Wilmington Journal Publisher Mary Alice Thatch, voted to pursue pardons of innocence for the Wilmington Ten. That effort got underway in earnest a year ago.

After a series of NNPA stories based on an investigation that revealed neverbefore-seen court records proving prosecutorial corruption, the mainstream media, including the New York Times, caught on, and began editorially pushing for pardoning the Wilmington Ten. In addition, Change.org, the NAACP

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts was the deciding justice in a 5-4 vote to uphold the president’s staple legislation, nicknamed Obamacare, on June 28. Despite arguments that U. S. citizens cannot be required to obtain health care, Roberts ruled that the law is constitutional as a tax. The ruling was a major relief to the Obama campaign.

and the Wilmington Ten garnered over 144,000 petition signatures for the cause.

Gov. Perdue’s pardons legally mean that the accused did not commit the crimes for which they were convicted. The governor’s decision was roundly praised.

“Gov. Perdue’s historic action today doesn’t remove the past forty years of injustice against ten innocent American citizens – North Carolinians who stood up for equal treatment under the law in our public education system,” the Wilmington Ten Pardons of Innocence Project, a justice outreach effort of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and the Wilmington Journal newspaper, said in a statement.

“But [the governor’s pardon] does correct the historical record, that Connie Tindall, Jerry Jacobs, William Joe Wright, Anne Sheppard, Wayne Moore, Marvin Patrick, James McKoy, Willie Earl Vereen, Reginald Epps and the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, were indeed innocent of all charges falsely assessed to them by a corrupt prosecutor who, to this day, has not answered for what he did.”

The first African-American to serve as attorney general, Eric Holder was found in contempt of Congress June 28 by a largely partisan vote of 255-67. Seventeen Democrats voted in favor of the measure, and two Republicans voted against it. Holder was found in contempt in connection with an investigation into an operation called “Fast and Furious,” in which authorities tracked weapons purchased by gun traffickers without immediately intercepting them.

Holder was questioned over his refusal to turn over documents that showed how the Justice Department reacted to the investigation and the loss of more than 1,000 tracked weapons. Furious over the contempt vote, the Congressional Black Caucus and other leading Democrats walked out of the vote in protest. In all, 108 Democrats including minority leader Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) and civil rights-era icon John Lewis (D-Ga.) joined the protest.

Hazing homicide Fallout continued throughout 2012 following the Nov. 19, 2011 hazing death of Florida A&M University drum major Robert Champion. In February, a national coalition of educational, clerical and journalistic leaders started a movement to end hazing and other types of violence on historically Black college campuses.

In October, FAMU President James Ammons resigned after Champion’s parents, Pam and Robert Champion Sr., filed a lawsuit against the university. Just last month, a 32-page report was released by the Florida Board of Governors Inspector General’s Office.

According to the Associated Press, it concludes that FAMU “lacked internal controls to prevent or detect hazing, citing a lack of communication among top university officials, the police department and the office responsible for disciplining students.”

BILL from A1 Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.

“After months of inaction, the plan that passed as part of the fiscal cliff package amounts to shoving farmers over the dairy cliff without providing any safety net below.”

Jobless benefits extended The nine-month extension maintains food aid at current levels until the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2013. The Senate bill would have cut SNAP by $4.5 billion, the House bill by $16 billion.

The House late Tuesday passed the bill to avert the fiscal cliff by a 257-167 vote, sending the measure to President Obama. The measure will allow tax rates on upper income Americans to go up, but makes middle class tax cuts permanent, avoiding a spike in taxes for most people that had been set to go into place.

The measure also extends unemployment benefits and makes other changes to tax and spending laws. It had passed the Senate earlier in the morning on Tuesday.

not be allowed to stand any longer.”

Chavis told the Wilmington Journal, “This is a great day for the people, and the movement. This is a very rare victory.”

Historical context

FLORIDA COURIER FILES

The ‘Wilmington Ten’ were finally pardoned, decades after they served time for crimes they didn’t commit.

Illegal tactics Gov. Perdue agreed that revelations of the racist and illegal trial tactics of Wilmington Ten prosecutor Jay Stroud – which included documented handwritten evidence of seeking “KKK” and “Uncle Tom-type” jurors; bribing witnesses to commit perjury; hiding exculpatory evidence of a witness’s mental illness from the defense; and deliberately forcing a mistrial so that he could get both the judge and jury that would favor convictions – corrupt the criminal justice system, and shamed the state.

Perdue called it “naked racism.”

She said in a statement: “This conduct is disgraceful. It is utterly incompatible with basic notions of fairness, and with every ideal that North Carolina holds dear. The legitimacy of our criminal justice system hinges on it operating in a fair and equitable manner, with justice being dispensed based on innocence or guilt – not based on race or other forms of prejudice.”

She continued, “That did not happen here. Instead, these convictions were tainted by naked racism and represent an ugly stain on North Carolina’s criminal justice system that can-

North Carolina NAACP President Rev. William Barber, who partnered with the Wilmington Ten Pardons of Innocence, placed the successful pardons campaign in a historical context.

“Not only will the civil rights and human rights communities honor this act, but history itself will record this day as groundbreaking,” Barber told reporters in Raleigh, N.C. on Monday.

“On the eve of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Gov. Perdue has proclaimed a contemporary emancipation for these freedom fighters. These pardons are not only for North Carolina but also for the nation and for the world.

“We honor the governor’s noble, courageous and righteous decision today and we commend her heart’s steadfast commitment to justice.”

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

FLORIDA

A3

Everglades plane crash survivors want memorial Eastern Flight 401 crashed near Miami 40 years ago

BY KEN KAYE SUN SENTINEL (MCT)

FORT LAUDERDALE – Forty years have passed since Eastern Flight 401 slammed down in the Everglades, yet no memorial has been raised to remember the 101 people who perished that night.

It’s time to change that, say survivors and families of the victims, who hope to raise $15,000 for a granite block containing the names of those who died.

“We want to get something that’s permanent, because the memory lives on forever,” said Ron Infantino, a passenger on the Lockheed-1011 that crashed 18 miles northwest of Miami on Dec. 29, 1972.

Survivors and family members gathered Dec. 29 at the ValuJet Memorial in far southwest Miami-Dade County to remember those lost on the Eastern flight.

ValuJet Flight 592 crashed about two miles away from the Eastern site — 24 years later.

“That’s about as close as we’ll get to the actual site,” said Beverly Raposa, a flight attendant credited with keeping survivors calm by having them sing Christmas carols until rescuers arrived.

‘It was like yesterday’ The memorial she and others are hoping for would be placed on the grounds of the Glenn H. Curtiss Mansion and Gardens, near Miami International Airport.

“In our hearts, it was like yes-

PETER ANDREW BOSCH/MIAMI HERALD/MCT

Miami-Dade Police Department Director James K. Loftus, right, gathers with a small group of family members to pay their respects on May 11, 2011 at the memorial in Miami-Dade County to those who died in the ValuJet Flight 592 crash. terday,” said Raposa, who today is vice president of a financial marketing company in West Palm Beach. “In our hearts, we carry 101 passengers and crew members who didn’t make it out that night.”

Eastern Flight 401 took off from New York’s John F. Ken-

nedy International Airport with 163 travelers and 13 crew members. While approaching Miami, the pilots fixated on a burnedout cockpit indicator light and didn’t notice the autopilot had been accidentally turned off.

By the time the pilots realized the jetliner had been gradually

descending, it was too late. The plane splashed into the muck and broke apart.

“To my dying day, I will hear it and see it,” Raposa said of the moment the plane hit.

Infantino, of Coral Gables, lost his bride of only 20 days, Lilly, in the accident. They had been

Doctors expect severely burned victim of gasoline attack to survive

George Zimmerman is escorted by a private security guard as he arrives at the Seminole County courthouse for a hearing in Sanford on Dec. 11.

BY JULIE K. BROWN AND AMY SHERMAN THE MIAMI HERALD (MCT)

JOE BURBANK/ ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

Zimmerman sued over unpaid bodyguard services

BY RENE STUTZMAN ORLANDO SENTINEL (MCT)

ORLANDO – This was the plan to move George Zimmerman out of the Seminole County Jail and make him disappear: He would be outfitted in concealed body armor and driven away by an armed guard in a rental vehicle that had been checked to make sure no one had secretly placed a GPS tracking device on it.

He would be whisked away to a tourist resort, according to a recently released “jail escort plan,” where he would then go into the handicapped stall of the men’s bathroom and change into a new shirt, hat and glasses.

Zimmerman, facing seconddegree murder charges for the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin, would then walk to a different vehicle and be driven to a safe house.

All the while, bodyguards would watch for paparazzi, “aerial” and “negative counter-surveillance” and be on the lookout for people wanting to harm or humiliate their client.

Huge protection bill The plan was put together by an Orlando private detective whose company, Associated Investigative Services Inc., last month filed suit against Zimmerman and his attorney, Mark O’Mara, claiming they owe $27,000 for security services.

The company’s invoices, attached to the suit, show that it billed Zimmerman and O’Mara $66,000 for 21 days of protection

returning to South Florida after visiting relatives in New York.

He, meanwhile, nearly died from severe arm and leg injuries.

“I was naked in the water for hours before they found me. It was horrible,” said Infantino, who has worked for Aflac Insurance for 35 years.

— an average of more than $3,100 a day — even though Zimmerman was still in the Seminole County Jail during seven of those days.

During one five-day period, the agency billed Zimmerman and O’Mara more than $5,100 a day, the invoices show.

O’Mara said he paid the company $40,000, that the charges appeared to be exorbitant and that he never signed a contract.

Zimmerman is now being protected under a plan that costs $700 a week, O’Mara said.

Isolated in Seminole Stephen Milbrath, the Orlando attorney who filed suit, said O’Mara was bound by an oral contract. The bodyguards took on a challenging assignment: to make a high-profile, widely hated man invisible and safe.

Zimmerman, a 29-year-old Neighborhood Watch volunteer, has said he acted in self-defense, but the killing ignited racial tensions and sent thousands of people to the streets at rallies across the country. It prompted hate mail and death threats — and not just to Zimmerman but also to his parents, who abandoned their Lake Mary home and went into hiding; his lawyer; and the daughter of a judge.

Zimmerman is now free on $1 million bail, living with his wife and a different bodyguard at a secret location in Seminole County, his whereabouts tracked by a GPS device. It’s not a happy life, according to O’Mara. Zimmerman is jobless, isolated and mostly stays in-

doors. His weight has ballooned.

The bodyguards’ lawsuit, filed Dec. 29 in state circuit court in Orange County, shows the lengths to which Zimmerman has gone to stay out of sight.

Protection included family On June 28, according to the suit, O’Mara phoned Chris M. Rumbaugh, an Orlando private detective and former Orange County deputy, undercover drug agent and SWAT team member.

Zimmerman was likely to be released from jail soon and needed a way to safely disappear then receive around-the-clock protection.

Rumbaugh’s company put together the plan, according to the court documents. It’s not clear whether it was fully carried out.

He did not return a phone call; neither did O’Mara. But the plan called for Zimmerman, his wife Shellie, other family members and at times, O’Mara to be protected by a seven-member team of bodyguards.

The guards would rotate in and out on either eight- or 12-hour shifts and live in a room next to the Zimmermans, at a tourist-area hotel equipped with a kitchenette, records show.

The agency billed Zimmerman and O’Mara for around-the-clock protection from June 29 to July 18, the invoices show.

MIAMI – Most of the skin on his face is gone and nearly 50 percent of his body is covered in third-degree burns, but doctors say Darrell Brackett, who was set on fire in front of a Brownsville gas station on Christmas night, will survive.

“We are trying to think positive, but the next three days will be critical,’’ said his mother, Bridgett Brackett, who last week distributed fliers at the gas station where her son was attacked.

She and her family are asking the public’s help in finding those responsible for the crime.

Her son was confronted about 11:30 p.m.

Dec. 25 by someone who grabbed a gas can he was carrying, doused the liquid on him, and then set him on fire. Brackett ran screaming into the street, where a passerby helped him to a grassy area. He dropped to the ground and rolled until the fire was extinguished. MiamiDade police have few clues so far.

Reason for attack unknown

Darrell Brackett

Police “are out there canvassing the neighborhood — going door to door trying to see if anybody saw anything,” Brackett said.

Employees at the gas station said that the security cameras outside the store were not operating at the time of the attack.

On Christmas night, Brackett, 44, and his girlfriend had a cookout at their home. They took their guests home and after dropping them off, the couple ran out of gas. Brackett walked to the gas station, where he paid for gas and walked to the pump.

Brackett’s mother said her son told the passerby — a woman she thanks for saving her son’s life — “They didn’t have to do this to me.” He mentioned that he had had some words with some men before he was attacked. It is not known whether he was targeted by someone he knew or whether the crime was random.

‘Lifelong process’ Bridgett Brackett, who lives in neighboring Liberty City, said her son, who has a lengthy arrest record for drugs, has had his ups and downs. But she said he had recently settled down and was not the kind of man who went looking for trouble.

He was working for his girlfriend’s uncle’s lawn service as a gardener and driver, his mother said. He grew up in Liberty City and graduated from Miami Northwestern High School.

Just a year ago, Brackett’s older brother, Jerome Gardner, died in a construction accident.

Dr. Carl Schulman, trauma surgeon at the Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, said about one in four patients of Brackett’s age and burn severity die, usually from infection.

“He has some burns over some critical joints particularly elbows, hands.....This is going to be a lifelong process,” Schulman said.

Doctors already did some bedside surgery, making incisions through the burned skin to relieve the pressure from accumulated fluid. Next, doctors will replace skin temporarily with skin from a cadaver or pig. Permanent skin grafts will involve taking skin from areas that aren’t burned.

Pastor Charles Dinkins, with Hosanna Community Baptist Church, which is just a few blocks from where Brackett was set on fire, said it may be difficult for police to solve the case.

Many in the crime-plagued-neighborhood have developed a no-snitch survival mentality, he said.

“We used to have citizens who stood up to say we will not tolerate this, but we’ve developed a sense of helplessness that often comes from neglect,’’ Dinkins said.

EDITORIAL

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JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

Looking forward to greater new year As we approach the end of one year and the beginning of another, it’s hard to believe that 365 days have passed since January 2012.

One thing I can say with complete certainty is that it’s been an eventful year.

We’ve had extreme highs and lows, wins and losses, triumphs and tragedies. Through it all, we’re still here and looked to 2013. We can always hope the next year will be better – no matter how bad or good the last one was!

Remembering departed Reflecting on 2012, I say a prayer for friends and families of those who began 2012 with us, but are no longer here to witness 2013. Many have passed on, yet remain in our hearts and have become indelible parts of our memory.

I feel privileged to have become fellow travelers with them in our collective journeys through time

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. TRICE EDNEY WIRE

and space. Among my friends who passed on in 2012, I pay tribute to Congressman Mervyn Dymally, Jesse Hill, Barbara Lett Simmons and Lawrence Guyot and many more that I didn’t know personally, but were meaningful in my life.

Destined for greatness Among the highlights of 2012 was the reelection of President Barack Obama. When I heard his keynote address at the 2004 DNC convention in Boston, I knew he was destined for greatness, and that he’d make a significant contribution to shaping the historical landscape of our nation and the

world. He did not disappoint.

Despite the negative polls and pundits, a turbulent economy and social trials and tribulations that many of us faced, we were able to rally together to fight those who attempted to disenfranchise us.

Through our collective effort and our combined resources, we were able to mobilize a political effort that beat back the regressive intent of eccentric billionaires and other wealthy donors who had evil and selfish intent even though their actions would hurt the least of our people. We were blessed in the end that so many of us were able to work together to renew the opportunity for enlightened leadership.

Lessons learned I can say with total honesty that I look forward to the coming year projecting positive outcomes for our nation. We’ve learned lessons of our power at the ballot box.

DARRYL CAGLE

Random thoughts of a free Black mind, v. 163 quick takes from #2: straight, no chaser

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq. PUBLISHER

push a weakened GOP to do something large. And by giving the GOP another 60 days before across-the-board “sequester” cuts kick in, he takes the time-pressure off while his second-term clock is running.

The same fight will happen in March over the debt limit. The longer Republicans engage Obama in deficit warfare, the less time he has to do something big – minority and small business improvement, climate change, gun control, etc. And because he won’t crush the GOP whenever he has the chance, nobody’s afraid of him.

Kicking cans down the road benefits the GOP, not Obama. Do he and his people understand that?

Contact me at ccherry2@gmail.com; holler at me at www.facebook.com/ ccherry2; follow me on Twitter @ccherry2.

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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First Lady recognized We’re blessed to have our great First Lady, Michelle Obama, for four more years. I kept waiting for someone to give credit to her for the meaningful work she’s done the past four years, but seeing little, I want to remind all of us of the great work she has done to get us moving – especially our children.

Recently the Washington Post did almost a page on improving child nutrition in India, but I saw nothing there or in any paper I read about the First Lady’s work on that subject.

I even checked out the Style Section where many papers place important information just be-

cause a woman did or said it, but I didn’t see it. I’m grateful for the work she did with her Let’s Move campaign. I’m sure it helped to move the needle down a little on childhood obesity.

Several of our youth chapters in the National Congress of Black Women chose Let’s Move as their project. I’m especially proud of our Columbia, S.C. chapter for the work they’re doing in this area with their praise dancing.

It’s so easy to make a positive difference so let’s think of something we can do to make 2013 a better year for somebody! There’s no better time than now to start so we can all look forward to a greater new year in 2013!

Dr. E. Faye Williams is Chair of the National Congress of Black Women. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Financial criminals and their government co-conspirators

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: REPUBLICAN INFIGHTING

Happy New Year! Back from a long round trip driving from South Florida to Atlanta. Saw two huge Confederate flags on large flagpoles clearly visible from I-75, as well as too many Obama-hating billboards to count. I feel some of our White brothers’ and sisters’ pain, but we lived through eight years of Ronald “state’s rights” Reagan and George W. “Katrina” Bush. We survived...

Bro. Prez wins one – As I predicted, America didn’t go over the “fiscal cliff” due to a last-minute deal. I’ve criticized Obama’s negotiation style and strategies in the past, as he tends to cave in at the last minute just so a deal – any deal – could get done and check it off his “to-do” list. Damn the details.

Could he have gotten more? Yes, by sticking to his guns till the end – something he’s never done. By decreasing the number of super-rich Americans who will pay more taxes, he gave away billions in deficit reduction with little in return from GOP-dominated House Republicans that most voters already despise. Enough of them would have had to vote for anything he put on the table, or be blamed for wrecking the economic recovery.

This was the best chance he had to

We’ve seen the potential for influencing positive change. We’ve learned that the only way to overcome aggressive and evil intent of our opponents is to mobilize and combine the power of our votes with others.

I guess President Barack Obama is doing all that he can to improve America’s worsening financial system.

He has bailed out Wall Street stockbrokers, auto makers, insurance companies and bankers.

Most of the money thrown at corporate big wigs and executives has done little or nothing to help the little man and little woman.

You couldn’t get a loan last year and you can’t get a loan this year. The state of lending in this country is terrible. Even beast bankers don’t want to lend money to each other.

No matter how many “fiscal cliffs” there are to cross or how much stimulus money you print to give to the companies being “bailed out”, the people will continue to suffer! Why? Because the beast is still the beast.

No help for Blacks The bankers who were making or denying loans on the basis of race, are still dong that. The bankers that were redlining Black communities to refuse to give money to Black businesses in our neighborhoods continue to do that too.

This refinancing craze is just that, crazy. Yes banks will be glad to refinance homes that they don’t own because they have no idea where the original loan documents are. Look for the beast bankers to hit homeowners with new, arbitrary and predatory “fees” that homeowners never agreed

carrying co-conspirators.

Lucius Gantt THE GANTT REPORT

to pay.

The banks can do this because our government refuses to criminalize bad bank actions and they refuse to jail bankers and other financial criminals.

But guess what? All Americans have elected officials on the state level that are supposed to be protecting us from financial crimes like falsifying financial transaction documents, making false financial statements to government investigators and failing to pay fees to conduct certain government financial transactions.

No clue about theft If the state’s chief financial officers don’t have a clue about lying and stealing by financial companies, why in the hell are taxpayers paying their salaries?

Take Florida for instance.

The Sunshine State has been a safe haven for financial criminals for a long time.

When President Obama last visited Florida he came to talk about towns like Fort Myers that were devastated by wrongful foreclosures.

The investigators in the Florida Office of Financial Services are employees that are either untrained in recognizing financial criminals in Florida or they are card-

Crimes covered up When everyone in the world knows that certain predatory mortgage companies were ordered to sell all of their assets by a court of law and the mortgage company’s principals are under federal indictment, why doesn’t the CFO’s staff know that? Why does the CFO’s staff try to cover up crimes by lying companies?

I know you don’t like for me to pull the sheets off of financial criminals and their government co-conspirators but all you have to do is call your state’s financial regulators and tell them what I wrote and see if anything happens.

People living in America should join me in fighting predatory beast bankers.

Campaign contributions, organization contributions, food and alcohol should never stop you from doing your best to end financial crimes and telling the people the truth.

The Bible asks a question in Revelations 13:4 and the answer is, “I’ll fight the devilish beast!”

Gantt’s book “Beast Too: Dead Man Writing” can now be ordered at bookstores worldwide. You can also purchase a book or contact Lucius at www. allworldconsultants.net).

Click on this story at www. flcourier.com to write your own response.

Gun violence continues in urban area Do not turn your eyes from the horror of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Conn. Twenty children, their teachers and aides, their school principal shot repeatedly, in some cases beyond recognition, by a 20-year-old wielding a semiautomatic assault weapon.

As he has shown in his moving words after the horror, President Barack Obama clearly is grief-stricken, as we all should be, about the children murdered in their innocence.

“Can we honestly say we’re doing enough to keep our children, all of them, safe from harm?” Obama asked in his remarks in Newtown. “If we’re honest with ourselves, the answer’s no. We’re not doing enough, and we will have to change.”

The president pledged that “in the coming weeks, I’ll use whatever power this office holds to engage my fellow citizens, from law enforcement to mental health professionals to parents and educators, in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this.”

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

Americans to rethink our infatuation with guns and violence. I would invite him to come home to Chicago to challenge the nation to understand the daily toll gun violence takes.

Obama could challenge states and cities across the country to act. The gun lobby has persuaded many state legislatures to strip municipalities of their power to regulate guns.

The president could enlist public officials from major cities and suburban jurisdictions to push hard on states to give back that power to act — and enlist citizens to march on state legislatures to get them to act.

Instead of expanding concealed weapons laws, cities and suburban districts could unite to put strict limits on handguns and assault weapons.

Will the horror of Sandy Hook Elementary and the slaughter on our urban streets force action?

Strict laws won’t end gun violence – not with 310 million guns spread through the country. But we can do more to protect our children – and we must.

witnessed 485 killed in gun violence, 125 under the age of 18.

Legislators are afraid to act because the gun lobby is well-funded, and this country is saturated in guns. As of 2009, there were an estimated 310 million non-military firearms owned in America.

There are 129,817 federally licensed firearms dealers, 51,438 of which are retail gun stores. That compares with 10,787 Starbucks stores, and 143,839 gas stations across the country.

And that doesn’t count gun shows. About 40 percent of guns are sold in unlicensed private sales.

So if action is to take place, Americans in large numbers must make their voices heard.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, one of the original authors of the 1994 assault weapons ban, has vowed to introduce, on the first day of Congress, a new ban on the sale Killings in Chicago Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is As the president said, of assault weapons. Presiwe’ve seen too many of dent Obama could lead the president and CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. these tragedies. And daily drive for that.

Click on this story at www. in major cities like Chicago, the trauma builds. This year Infatuation with guns flcourier.com to write your as of Dec. 10, Chicago has He also could challenge own response.

EDITORIAL

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

‘It’s about hard work – and the hook up’ How will African-Americans improve our situation in 2013?

Right now, we have higher unemployment than any other population in our nation, less wealth, higher school dropout rates, and more crime in our communities.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that African-American communities had twice the number of negatives and half the number of positives in our country.

While the numbers may have shifted somewhat, it is still true that we are more likely to experience negative consequences (teen pregnancy, incarceration, crime) and less likely to experience positives (college graduation, high net worth).

Those of us who focus on public policy will look at past discrimination and ways it manifests itself in the present. We will look at the way race-neutral public policy has a racial impact (for example, changing the terms of the Parent Plus loan hits wealth-poor, creditchallenged Black families disproportionately).

We will suggest ways to close gaps, some of which may include ways that government investment, such as job creation and job training, can help close these gaps. And we will be right.

A5

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: NOT MY FAULT

less educated, working class, unnetworked and undisciplined, or some combination thereof.

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX

Fixing ourselves

TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

ing place even as I write this), the focus on the level of debt our nation faces suggests that tax reform will reduce tax deductions, some in ways that may increase income inequality, and that spending cuts are imminent. Many of these cuts will be in social programs and educational spending. Again, some of these cuts will widen, not narrow, the wealth and income gaps.

What does this mean for Black America in 2013? Pretend that it is Groundhog Day, if you saw the movie. The protagonist wakes up every day to the same day when everything happens the same way. If you keep doing what you have been doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting. For Black American, this means that if we keep looking external without looking internal, not much will change for us.

Yes, it will change for some of us: Those who are educated, middle class, well networked and disciplined are likely to find significant opportunities in our stagnant economy because even stagIncome gap widening nant economies churn and create Whether we fall off the fiscal new opportunities. But it won’t cliff (final negotiations are tak- change much for those who are

Education, networks, and discipline can be fixed. But few have an interest in fixing these things in Black America except for Black Americans. So what are we going to do?

Susan Taylor has been a passionate advocate of mentorship in the African-American community. She began the work when she editor-in-chief at Essence magazine and left the magazine to expand her reach in that area.

She continues to advocate mentorship and to teach us how to be mentors. Her work supports education, networking and discipline.

Similarly, in Southeast Washington, D.C., Cora Masters Barry leads the Recreation Wish List Committee and works with the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center to nurture more than 150 young people year-round (full disclosure – I am treasurer of the Wish List Board).

Students are trained in physical fitness through tennis, and are encouraged in their academics through learning. Most board members have hands-on relationships with our young people, who are held to the highest standards.

Again, this work supports educa-

Daryl Cagle, CagleCartoons.com

tion, networking and discipline.

Hook up necessary When people tell the story of the American Dream, they talk about the many ways that hard work will help someone transcend class. They talk about hard work. People who earn the minimum wage work hard. People who make ends meet on public assistance work hard. It’s not just about hard work. It’s about hard work – and the hook up.

A corporate leader who is a wonderful friend once said that she could use her position to hook up women and African-Americans who needed a hand up. She also indicated that the hook up could help individuals, but we also, and always, need a hook in to public policy decisions that affect our nation.

Even with the hook in, we need

to offer the hook up. That means embracing or mentoring a child.

That means providing an opportunity to someone who is unemployed. That means supporting education through contributions to colleges, but also by providing help to individuals. It’s the same hymn book we’ve been singing from for more than a century.

Now we need to sing with more energy.

Things won’t change in Black America unless some of us do. We need to both hook in and hook up!

Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. She is president emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

Congress, not president responsible for overspending During the 2012 campaign President Obama told the electorate that he would raise taxes on those making over $250K in order to generate much needed revenues and avoid going over the fiscal cliff. President Obama won reelection with a convincing margin; some would say a mandate even though Republicans still control the House.

There we stood on Friday, Dec. 28 on the edge of the ledge that is the fiscal cliff; seemingly no closer to a deal than we were a month ago, or are we?

Last week House Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH) threatened America by walking away from the negotiations and tried to bully President Obama with his “Plan B” vote. Boehner said that after Plan B passes the House, “Then, the president will have a decision to make…He (the president) can call on Senate Democrats to pass that bill, or he can be responsible for the largest tax increase in history.”

DR. WILMER J. LEON III TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

Plan B fails In spite of all of Boehner’s bravado, the “Plan B” vote failed. Boehner could not slap enough backs and twist enough arms within his own caucus. Alas, the Emperor has no clothes.

In response to his failure, Boehner issued the following statement saying in part, “Now it is up to the president to work with Senator Reid on legislation to avert the fiscal cliff.” Boehner’s counterpart in the Senate, Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) has said, “Look: It’s the president’s job to find a solution that can pass Congress. He’s the only one who can do it…This isn’t John Boehner’s problem to solve.”

Both Boehner and McConnell’s analysis would be correct except

for one minor detail, the Constitution of the United States. Article 1; Section 7 states, “All Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.”

Raising revenue Keep this clause in mind the next time a member of Congress rants about overspending. Since “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives,” instead of blaming the President; Congress should first look at themselves.

Why are Republicans holding their ground? They believe that President Obama will cave in at the last minute. He said during the 2008 campaign that he would not sign Health Care Reform legislation that did not contain the public option; he did.

Obama usually caves He said during the 2010 mid-

It’s time to turn our tears into action “These neighborhoods are our neighborhoods and these children are our children. We’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this…” President Barack Obama A movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. A Sikh Temple in Wisconsin. A shopping mall in Oregon. A political event in Tucson, Arizona. The weekend streets of big cities like Chicago. And now a first grade class in Newtown, Connecticut. When will the madness stop? When will we take “meaningful action” to end gun violence in America?

These are just the latest highprofile mass shootings that have taken the lives of too many innocent victims. And when those victims are small school children and their teachers, the weight of grief is almost too much to bear.

No time to grieve A weight of responsibility also falls on our shoulders. Immediately after one of these mass killings, someone always says it is too soon to talk about sensible gun control measures.

We must take time to grieve first. But after the flying of flags at half-staff and the tearful memorial services, we invariably go back to business as usual. I say, not this time.

As a father, a former mayor and a life-long advocate of a safe and quality education for

MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY WIRE

every child, I too am in mourning. But at the same time, I call on our leaders in Washington and in states across this nation, to take immediate action to protect our children and prevent the kind of senseless carnage we saw last week.

Even before this latest tragedy, for years, the National Urban League has been calling for sensible gun control. In fact, on the day after the recent presidential election, I sent a letter to President Obama and the leaders in the House of Representatives, saying in part. “The scourge of gun violence cries out for a comprehensive approach to community safety and crime reduction. This requires stronger enforcement of existing gun laws and re-enactment of the assault weapons ban.”

We asked the president and the Congress to make this a top priority for the next four years.

Violence in suburbs Gun violence has often been associated with poor, urban neighborhoods, and it is true that urban violence is much too prevalent. But most of these mass shootings have occurred

in quiet, suburban towns where crime is typically low and gun ownership is high.

The point is, gun violence can happen anywhere. The one common denominator is easy access to guns. In a nation of 314 million, there are 270 million privately held firearms. It is no coincidence that America has the highest gun-related murder rate of any developed country. And it’s not just criminal gun violence.

There are a substantial number of gun-related suicides and accidental deaths. Just last week, a 3-year-old Oklahoma boy found a gun in a relative’s home, shot himself in the head and died. Clearly, fewer guns in America and none in the wrong hands must be part of the solution.

We are pleased that on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” Senator Dianne Feinstein pledged to introduce a gun control bill on the first day of the next Congress that would limit the sale, transfer and possession of assault weapons, along with high capacity magazines.

She expects the President to offer his support for the law.

We hope so. It’s time to turn our tears into action.

Marc Morial is president/ CEO of the National Urban League. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

term elections that he would not sign legislation extending the Bush Era tax cuts; he did. During the 2012 DC-Autonomy Bill debate President Obama threw in the prohibition against the District government using its own funds to pay for abortions.

President Obama is reported to have said, ““John, I will give you D.C. abortion, but I am not happy about it,” Obama infamously told House Speaker John Boehner (ROhio) at the time, referring to language in the budget bill that would prevent D.C. from using its own locally raised funds to help women pay for abortions.”

In this current round of fiscal cliff negotiations President Obama has gone from increasing taxes on income over $250K to increasing taxes on income over $400K. Also, President Obama has conceded to make changes to Social Security that are unnecessary.

According to Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), “The people of this nation are depending upon us to be true to our word. I don’t know how

many members ran on a promise not to cut Social Security. Now, without any hard proposal to raise taxes on the rich, some are using Social Security as a carrot to get a deal. We cannot, and we must not play with the lives of senior citizens.”

Boehner in his Plan B wants $1M base to increase revenues. I hope I’m wrong but I predict the deal will get cut (if it’s not already).

Why else would Boehner allow the House to stay away for the Holiday’s?

The “deal” will look very similar to Boehner’s failed Plan B with extensions to unemployment benefits, and unnecessary Social Security cuts thrown in for good measure; leaving many to ask was this compromise or conspiracy.

Happy New Year!

Dr. Wilmer Leon is a teaching associate in the Department of Political Science at Howard University. Click on this story at www.flcourier.com to write your own response.

N.C. NAACP statement on pardon of ‘Wilmington 10’ This week the spirit of justice was awakened in the Capitol of North Carolina. Governor Beverly Perdue signed a Pardon of Innocence for nine men and one woman known as ‘The Wilmington 10.’

These young people were nonviolent protestors fighting for educational equality. They were framed, wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in connection to a fire bombing in Wilmington, N.C. over 40 years ago.

These unjust convictions were due to racist manipulation of the court system and extraordinary and blatant racially motivated prosecutorial misconduct. A Federal Court overturned these convictions over 30 years ago but until today, NC had fallen short.

In the last few days of her governorship, Governor Perdue has walked us into a season of epiphany.

In this season, NC has finally had a revelation and with this revelation comes a continued need for redemption and repentance from the stain of injustice. Not only will the civil rights and human rights communities honor this act, but history itself will record this day as groundbreaking.

On the eve of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Governor Perdue has proclaimed a contemporary emancipation for these freedom fighters: Benjamin Chavis, Connie Tindall, Marvin Patrick, Wayne Moore, Reginald Epps, Jerry Jacobs, James

McKoy, Willie Earl Vereen, William Wright, Jr., and Ann Shepard, whose fight for justice will never be forgotten.

These pardons are not only for North Carolina but also for the nation and for the world. We honor the Governor’s noble, courageous and righteous decision today and we commend her heart’s steadfast commitment to justice.

Special thanks are extended to: The National Newspaper Publishers Association, The Wilmington Journal, Attorney James Ferguson, Ms. Carolyn Q. Coleman, Attorney Irving Joyner, Attorney Al McSurely, Mr. Cash Michaels, Ms. Mary Thatch, Dr. Timothy Tyson, officers and members of the NAACP, and the thousands of persons who signed petitions, prayed and pushed for this dream to become reality.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. Click on this story at www.flcourier. com to write your own response.

TOj A6

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

24th Annual

TM

Zora Neale HurstonFestival of the Arts and Humanities SATURDAY, JANUARY 26 – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2013

Outdoor Festival of the Arts in Eatonville FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 – SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Admission: 17 & Under – Free

Adults – Cash Donation

Theme: “Zora’s Eatonville: Culture as Conservator of the Community’s Heritage” Special Features

Africa Diaspora Pavilion: Visitors have the opportunity to

observe and to interact with persons who are “tradition-bearers,” those who are preserving their community’s heritage. On a continuous basis, master crafters from Historic Eatonville, from around the State of Florida, and The Bahamas will demonstrate their skills as quilters, woodcarvers, musicians and tellers of tales.

Fine Art Lane: A favorite of the art crowd, Charles Bibbs, a contemporary master, will be guest artist for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

“Fabulous Foods” Demonstrations: Marvin Woods, popular celebrity chef, TV host, and author will prepare dishes showcasing healthy, delicious and affordable fare. Funding provided by the Winter Park Health Foundation.

Caribbean American Passport (CAP) Village:

In a self-contained setting within “Zora’s Village,” visitors will experience the diverse and authentic culture of the Caribbean as represented by its many island nations.

Education Programs for Pre-K - Grade 12 Concept: Think of the Outdoor Festival of the Arts as an outdoor classroom where young people will be exposed to a broad range of experiences which will enhance their intelligence. Here is a partial listings of “course offerings,” several of which satisfy Sunshine State Standards: ■ Discovery Health presented by the Orlando Science Center and made possible from the support of the Walmart Foundation ■ “Body-Wise” presented by the University of Central Florida College of Medicine ■ Creative Writing Workshop for High School Students presented by Divine Literary Publishing ■ Scavenger Hunt presented by the Florida Historical Society ■ ZORA! Literacy Initiative presented by Preserve Eatonville Community ■ Make-and-Take Tent (Elementary) presented by the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. ■ Make-and-Take Tent (Middle School)

■ Heather Henson’s Ibex Puppetry ■ Audiological Services offered through the University of Central Florida, College of Health and Public Affairs

“We Still Live Here: As Nutayunean” (Film) Saturday, February 2

Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Winner of the 2011 Full Frame Inspiration Award, this film is a moving documentary about one woman’s efforts to bring back her people’s Wampanoag language, which had not been spoken for over a century.

Admission: $7.00 Location: Enzian Theater, 1300 South Orlando Avenue, Maitland

Question Bridge: Black Males Opening Reception and Gallery Talk Friday, February 1

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM Location: Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, 227 East Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville This cutting edge installation is created by Chris Johnson and Hank Willis Thomas, in collaboration with Bayeté Ross Smith and Kamal Sinclair.

Saturday, February 2

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Also scheduled is a special “Talk-Back” Session with Hank Willis Thomas.

Primary Sponsors:

The Andy Warhol Foundation Additional Sponsors:

All Sponsors are as of December 24, 2012

For more information, please call 407-647-3307 or visit our website at www.zorafestival.org

ZORA! Festival 2013 is a presentation of the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (P.E.C.)

HEALTH FOOD || HEALTH TRAVEL | |MONEY SCIENCE | BOOKS | MOVIES | TV | AUTOS LIFE | FAITH | EVENTS | CLASSIFIEDS | ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS | FOOD COURIER

IFE/FAITH

South African president: Pets aren’t for Blacks See page B4

SUN COAST / TAMPA BAY

January 4 - January 10, 2013

SHARING BLACK LIFE, STATEWIDE

Home cooking that’s flavorful and healthy See page B6

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www.flcourier.com

Defending their son’s honor

PHOTOS BY PEDRO PORTAL/EL NUEVO HERALD/MCT

Tracy Martin, right, and Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin’s parents, stand at a park where Trayvon used to play as a kid in Miramar, Florida, as they talk to a reporter during an interview on Dec. 13.

Parents of Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman cope with aftermath of Sanford shooting

BY FRANCES ROBLES THE MIAMI HERALD (MCT)

A

s the shooting that divided the nation gets closer to a trial, parents of Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman are preparing for the case to reopen wounds. The last time she was on TV with her face obscured by shadows, George Zimmerman’s mother explained that her son’s roots are Afro-Peruvian.

In the months since her teenage son was killed, Trayvon Martin’s mom became a nationally known activist who mostly sleeps in hotels as she bounces from one speaking engagement to another talking about self-defense laws.

“As a mother, this is a job,” said Sybrina Fulton, whose son Trayvon became a household name after Zimmerman shot and killed him in a townhouse complex in Sanford. “It is a position I never wanted.”

Both women want to set the record straight about their sons. Each blames the other’s boy for the tragedy. One lives in hiding; the other spent the year under the glare of cameras.

Their deep divide on the killing that rattled America underscores the sharp contrasts that mark the case that became one of the highest profile news events of 2012.

Took nation by storm Hundreds of thousands of people, from Seattle to Miami, Sanford to Manhattan, took to the streets to demand an arrest in the weeks following the Feb. 26 death of a Black teenager at the hands of a Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer.

But when the clamor became so thunderous that Zimmerman finally found himself in handcuffs, so many people took such pity on the gunman that they gave him more than $200,000 in less than a month.

Even now, after the nation’s news channels have moved on to other tragedies and the story that rocked the country fell off the front pages, both families are

Trayvon’s shooting death named top Florida story of 2012

Attorney Benjamin L. Crump, from left, joins Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton on Dec. 13 at the Miramar park. Said Trayvon’s father: “It’s not just about Trayvon; it’s about all our kids.” preparing for a murder trial that promises to reopen wounds and spark fears of civil unrest.

‘Two Martins, Gone Too Soon’ As lawyers prepare for 2013’s trial of the year, both Sanford and Miami have launched community relations projects.

In Miami, civic leaders are clearly worried about reactions to the trial’s outcome.

A case that started with the killing of an unidentified teen wound up raising the national conscience on issues of gun control, racial profiling, self-defense law and police bias.

Zimmerman’s family decries a media frenzy they believe distorted truth and justice. The Martins look back at a national scandal and feel pride.

“It was about to be swept under the rug, and I’m proud that it got thrust into national attention,” said Tracy Martin, Trayvon’s father. “It’s not just about Trayvon; it’s about all our kids.”

He remembers a rally where his son’s photo was posted alongside Martin Luther King’s. Fulton reminded him of the caption: “Two Martins, Gone Too Soon.”

“That picture sticks in my head,” he said. “It blows our minds that our seed was in the same namesake as Martin Luther King.”

Store trip turns tragic Martin, a South Florida-area truck driver, had taken his son up to Sanford, a racially diverse community north of Orlando, to ride out a 10-day school suspension.

Trayvon had been caught at Michael Krop High in North Miami-Dade with a small plastic bag containing marijuana residue. Suspended for the third time, the teen went to cool his heels at the Central Florida townhouse complex where his father’s girlfriend lived.

With his dad out for the evening, Trayvon went to the store for snacks. On his way back from 7-Eleven, he encountered George Zimmerman, an affable, exceedingly polite neighborhood watch volunteer who was in the insurance business and had a habit of calling police whenever he saw something awry.

Fit a profile Zimmerman had a license to carry a concealed weapon, a firearm he has said he carried everywhere except work. He says he was on his way to Target when he spotted someone lurking around in the rain looking in windows.

After a series of burglaries at the Retreat at Twin Lakes neighborhood, Zimmerman did what he had done several

Trayvon Martin’s shooting death was named the Associated Press’s top Florida story of 2012.

Death of the 17-year-old was the state’s top story in a poll of newspaper editors conducted by the Associated Press.

The shooting of Martin by George Zimmeraman raised questions about race, gun control and equal justice under the law. A 44day delay in the neighborhood watch captain’s arrest led to nationwide protests, and everyone from President Obama to celebrities weighed in on the shooting.

Zimmerman, a former neighborhood watch captain, is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder, claiming self-defense. His trial will be in June. times before when he spotted Black men he did not recognize.

He called the police. And, in a move that is likely to play a big role in the prosecution of his case, Zimmerman also got out of his car. The dispatcher advised against it.

He says it was to provide the police with an address. His detractors say it was to hunt down a Black teen in a hoodie.

The girl Trayvon was talking to on the phone in the minutes leading up to his death said Trayvon was scared because a creepy guy was following him. She told him to run.

See TRAVON, Page B2

T

CALENDAR

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FLORIDA COMMUNITY CALENDAR St. Petersburg: Legendary R&B singer Mavis Staples is scheduled at the Mahaffey Theater on Jan. 19 for an 8 p.m. show.

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

TOJ

CON FUNK SHUN

The 13th Annual Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival takes place in Tampa Jan. 17-26. A street festival at Curtis Hixon Park on Jan. 19 will feature an old-school concert with Con Funk Shun and Klymaxx. More information: www.tampablackheritage.org.

Tampa: Rap sensation Young Jeezy will perform at the Amphitheatre Entertainment Complex at Ybor on Jan. 21 for a 7 p.m. show.

Orlando: The Lights Out Festival featuring Lil Jon will be at the UCF Arena Jan. 11 for a 5:30 p.m. show.

Winter Park: The Unity Heritage Festival will be held Jan. 20 from 1 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at Shady Park, 721 W. New England Ave. The festival will feature gospel artists and family events. More information: 407-599-3275.

Mount Dora: The Battle of Townsend’s Plantation & Civil War Festival featuring Civil War re-enactments, historical exhibits, folk music and camp re-creations will be held Feb. 1-3 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Renninger’s Antique Center, 20651 U.S. Highway 441. $6 adults, $4 ages 12 and younger. More information: 407-418-2075.

Jacksonville: Jazz and Blues artist Cyrus Chestnut will be at the Ritz Theater in Jacksonville on Jan. 5 for a 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. show.

Ocoee: The City of Ocoee is accepting parade registrations for its seventh annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Parade presented by the City of Ocoee’s Human Relations Diversity Board. It is Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. Parade registration forms are available at www.ocoee. org or 407-905-3100.

Tampa: The American Brain Tumor Association hosts its inaugural Breakthrough for Brain Tumors Tampa 5K Run & Walk on Feb. 9 at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. More information or registration: www. breakthroughforbraintumors.

Orlando: Comedian Bruce Bruce joins Sheryl Underwood and Tony Rock at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre on Feb. 1 for an 8 p.m. show.

Tampa: Tampa’s Downtown on Ice will take place through Jan. 5.

Tickets are $10 for 90 minutes on the ice and covers skate rental.

The rink is open from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday nights and Friday nights until 10 p.m. On Saturdays, the rink is open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 9 p.m.

More information: tampasdowntownonice.com.

Hollywood: Funny man Sinbad will perform at the Hollywood Hard Rock Live Jan. 13 for a 7 p.m. show.

St. Petersburg: First Fridays are held in downtown St. Petersburg at 250 Central Ave. between Sec-

ond and Third Avenues from 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. More information: 727-393-3597.

Miami: R&B singer Tank will be at the James L. Knight Center Feb. 15 for an 8 p.m. show.

Miami: A shakers and stirrers business networking mixer will be held Jan. 15 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Fado, 900 S. Miami Ave. Complimentary snacks, one free drink. More information: Networkingforprofessionals.com.

St. Petersburg: Legendary R&B singer Mavis Staples is scheduled at the Mahaffey Theater on Jan. 19 for an 8 p.m. show.

Miami: Enjoy Jazz and the Philharmonic Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Knight Concert Hall At The Adrienne Arsht Center.

Fort Lauderdale: R&B artist

Natalie Cole will be at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Au Rene Theatre on Jan. 22 and at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach on Jan. 23. Both shows are at 8 p.m.

Miami: CHARLEE of Dade County is hosting a foster parent recruitment information workshop Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at 155 S. Miami Ave. Suite 700. More information: www.charlee.org or 305-779-9600.

Miami: The Miami Jazz Society presents a free weekly film series and a free monthly jazz series at the Miami Tower, 100 SE Second St., in downtown Miami. A schedule is online at www.miamijazzsociety.com. More information: Keith Clarke, 305-684-4564.

Fort Lauderdale: Live jazz, blues, pop and everything in between along Hollywood’s signature 2.5

TRAVON from B1 Self-defense claim Minutes later, the teenager was dead, and Zimmerman’s life was about to be upended.

“After enduring a prolonged physical attack from Trayvon Martin, screaming for help countless times and receiving no help, and all the while in fear for my life, I shot Trayvon Martin in self-defense,” Zimmerman wrote in a recent statement posted on his website.

“I did not shoot to take his life, I shot to save my own.”

Indeed, a photo taken at the scene showed Zimmerman with a swollen bloody nose. Did Trayvon deck Zimmerman for no reason? Or did the skinny high school student defend himself against a shorter but stockier gunman who chased him?

“In the days and weeks following the shooting, a story was promoted that I am a racist and a murderer,” Zimmerman wrote. “These untruths spread through the community, the government, and the nation, amplified by a media frenzy seeking ratings over truth.”

Hit ‘MMA-style’?

So adamant is he about the media’s manipulation of the story that this month Zimmerman sued NBC for editing his call to police in a way that made it appear as if his suspicion of the teenager was based largely on race.

Zimmerman has this on his side: Sanford police apparently believed him. Although records show a detective recommended a manslaughter charge, lawyers have listed detectives to testify — for the defense.

“That’s not me hot-dogging it,” defense lawyer Mark O’Mara said. “That’s because the cops say things I want them to say.”

While some residents

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT

George Zimmerman is shown with defense counsel Mark O’Mara in court at the Seminole County courthouse during a hearing on Dec. 11 in Sanford. who were there that night blasted the police for a shoddy investigation, others said they saw Trayvon straddling Zimmerman as the two struggled on the ground. One man said the teenager was hitting Zimmerman “MMA-style.”

“Mixed martial arts. I had never seen that sport, but I saw it on YouTube and was amazed at the savage manner they beat people,” Zimmerman’s mother, Gladys, told Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos in a recent interview.

Mom denies racism She said none of it would have happened had Trayvon not attacked her son so savagely.

“George is not a racist. My family is not racist,” she insisted, while speaking with her face obscured.

“My children know their roots, and my roots are not White.”

The family fled its Lake Mary home in the face of what they said were repeated death threats. One of them arrived on a neighbor’s answering machine.

“They said, ‘This message is for your neighbor

Gladys Zimmerman. You can tell her I’ll be waiting for her by her post office box where I will slit her throat,’ ” recalled Jeff Peterson, a neighbor on their Lake Mary street. “This thing changed everybody’s life in this neighborhood, and George didn’t even live here.”

Zimmerman’s side Peterson described Zimmerman as mature, friendly and helpful to his neighbors.

A former Seminole State College criminal justice student, Zimmerman was raised in Virginia and moved to Central Florida after high school. He lived alone in his parents’ house for several years until his parents retired and joined him in Florida.

He is married to Shellie, a nursing student. His father, Robert Sr., is a retired magistrate, which many critics believe was a chief reason that Zimmerman was afforded the benefit of the doubt by police.

‘Racial narrative’ created The Zimmermans blame

the frenzy on Martin family lawyers, who brought in national civil rights leaders and ignored the fact that their son is Hispanic.

“There was a creation of a racial narrative, because basing the story on the merits of the crime was not sufficiently sensational to those who wanted to report more,” Zimmerman’s brother Robert told Univision. “Racism is a lucrative sport. Many people have their hands in a money bag, and there’s a lot of money to be made.”

Much of that criticism has been aimed at Trayvon’s parents, who have collected donations for an advocacy foundation they created in their son’s name.

Media and history The Zimmermans focus much of their ire on Benjamin Crump, the civil rights attorney whose constant media exposure forced law enforcement to take a second look at the case.

Crump, who has filed a claim with the homeowners association where Zimmerman served as crime watch coordinator, has yet

mile Broadwalk is every Friday of every month. More information: 954-924-2980.

Miami: Miami-Dade County hosts a Downtown Harvest Market every Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Residents and visitors have the opportunity to purchase seasonal produce directly from Miami-Dade growers at the Stephen P. Clark Center’s Courtyard, 111 NW 1st St. More information: www.earthlearning.org.

Boca Raton: An open mic night for 18 and up featuring comedy, poetry and music is held every Monday at the Funky Biscuit in the back of Royal Palm Plaza, 303 SE Mizner Blvd. Sign up is at 8 p.m.

The show begins at 8:30 p.m.

More information: Richy Lala 561512-8472.

to bill in the case. Neither has Zimmerman’s defense team.

Crump thinks back on the furor, the day marchers shut down Broadway, the rallies in Sanford, the dozens of Miami-Dade schools where students walked out in protest, and feels no regret.

He said history has shown that when Blacks are killed by Whites, particularly Whites acting in a law enforcement capacity, the only way to get a case going is by turning to the media.

In the months since Trayvon’s death, Crump has taken on at least three more similar cases.

“Little brown boys and little brown girls get killed and nobody cares until we make a fuss,” Crump said.

“They were so comfortable sweeping it under the rug like they didn’t matter.”

June 10 trial Crump said people often ask whether, after so much publicity, Zimmerman can get a fair trial.

“In my mind, the question is, can a little Black boy get murdered in the South and get justice?” Crump said. “Can Trayvon get justice?”

Although Sanford’s police chief publicly said there was not enough evidence to file charges, Gov. Rick Scott appointed a special prosecutor from Duval County, who filed a second-degree murder charge. The Sanford police chief was fired.

A trial is scheduled for June 10, and a self-defense immunity hearing will be held in the spring. At that hearing the judge will decide whether to throw out the case and offer Zimmerman immunity from both civil suits and criminal prosecution.

“My guy is innocent and the evidence strongly supports that,” O’Mara said in an interview last month.

“Someone should drop $1 million in his defense fund

account so he can get a real defense. He’s been put through the wringer.”

Trayvon’s parents criticized For their activism, Trayvon’s parents were skewered by right-wing bloggers, who tried to embarrass them by revealing personal information and photos.

Trayvon’s profanitylaced social media comments were picked over and scrutinized, and the parents were criticized for releasing angelic-looking photos of a teenager whose Twitter profile showed teeth covered by a removable gold grill.

“People try to say I did all this for money. I go to work every day. We have been hard-working people for 30 years. I have never even claimed unemployment,” Martin said. “The thing that gets me is that they (the Zimmermans) talk about how they are living like hermits.

“How do they think we’re living? Our son is dead.”

No sympathy for Zimmerman As for Zimmerman living in fear, don’t look to Trayvon’s parents for sympathy.

“He took that on,” Martin said. “I don’t feel sorry for him.”

Fulton said it still hurts when she hears negative things said about her son.

She wishes she had talked more about his personality, how he liked going skating, talking to girls on the phone and how he practically lived at Forzano Park in Miramar. That’s where he played football and worked in the concession stand.

“They want us to be quiet and walk away,” Fulton said.

“I want the legacy of Trayvon Martin to stand for something, so no other families go through what we did.”

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JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

NATION & WORLD

B3

ALGERINA PERNA/BALTIMORE SUN/MCT

Braje Hart, 4, center, learns first-hand about voting from her mother, Jenelle Dorsey, 20, (black jacket) as Dorsey votes in the presidential election at Fort Worthington Elementary School in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 6. At far left is Dorsey’s younger brother, Jamari Dorsey, 5.

2012 Black voter turnout could be historic Study indicates Blacks could have topped Whites for first time

BY DAVID LAUTER TRIBUNE WASHINGTON BUREAU (MCT)

WASHINGTON — Despite often-voiced concerns about the effect of voter identification laws, Black voter turnout remained high in 2012 and,

for the first time, may have topped the rate for Whites, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center.

Four years ago, the rate of Black voter turnout almost equaled that of Whites, continuing a trend of a steady increase in Black turnout rates that began in 1996. This year, with White turnout appearing to have dropped, Black turnout seems very likely to have exceeded the White level, although definitive figures

won’t be available until the Census Bureau reports in a few months.

A higher turnout rate among Blacks than Whites would mark a historic milestone given America’s long history of disenfranchising Blacks. Blacks were effectively barred from polls in many states until after passage of the federal Voting Rights Act in 1965.

Suppression laws backfired In the run-up to this

year’s presidential election, a number of states with Republican-majority legislatures passed laws limiting voting hours, curtailing voter registration efforts or requiring voters to show identification. Many Black leaders said those laws would disproportionately hurt elderly, poor and minority voters and accused Republicans of running a campaign of “voter suppression.”

Republicans said the measures were needed to combat voter fraud. In a few states, Republican legislative leaders explicitly said they hoped the measures would hurt Democratic candidates or reduce the “urban” vote.

Courts blocked some of those laws, and in the end they may have backfired as Black organizations used “voter suppression” as a rallying cry. The perception that “people don’t want you to vote” motivated many Blacks, particularly young people, to turn out, said Chanelle Hardy,

South African president says pet dogs are part of White culture, not for Blacks President Jacob Zuma of South Africa attended a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in advance of the Nuclear Security Summit at the Blair House in Washington, D.C., on April 11, 2010.

BY ROBYN DIXON LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s often-controversial president, Jacob Zuma, declared that such popular pursuits as owning a pet dog or straightening one’s hair are part of “White culture,” and should be shunned by his fellow Black citizens.

Emboldened after winning a second term as president last month in voting by the African National Congress, Zuma warned young Blacks that they would lose the respect of fellow Black South Africans if they tried to emulate Whites. He said that taking dogs for walks or spending money on veterinarians were White behaviors.

He delivered his remarks in a speech on Dec. 27 in Impendle, in KwaZulu-Natal, according to a report in the Star newspaper.

Zuma accused some pet owners of caring more for their dogs than for people.

The South African president’s remarks were controversial in part because ANC policy is to support a nonracial, nonsexist democracy.

Nixes hair straightening He said young Black women who straightened their hair were also try-

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ ABACA PRESS/MCT

ing to be like Whites. Hair straightening is common in South Africa, and many other parts of the continent.

“Even if you apply any kind of lotion and straighten your hair you will never be White,” Zuma said in the speech, which ignited a storm in the media and on Twitter.

One South African newspaper, the Mail and Guardian, ran a column under the headline, “Zuma goes barking mad.”

Some Black South Africans, including a trade union council leader and Zuma critic, Zwelinzima Vavi, reacted by posting photographs of themselves with their dogs. Awardwinning South African novelist, poet and playwright

Zakes Mda posted an old photograph on Twitter of former President Nelson Mandela grinning happily as a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog jumped on him.

“There are many different ways of being African.

Of being Black even. Those who love animals are not less African/Black than those who don’t,” Mda said in another tweet.

Acquitted on rape charge It’s not the first time Zuma has made controversial comments. In August he said in a TV interview that it was important women get married and have children, to give them “training.”

In 2006, when he went on trial for allegedly rap-

ing a family friend, he said he could tell she wanted sex because she was wearing a short skirt. He was acquitted, but was criticized for having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive person.

Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj released a statement saying Zuma’s speech was a message to Black people to uphold and promote their own culture.

“The essential message from the president was the need to decolonize the African mind post-liberation to enable the previously oppressed African majority to appreciate and love who they are and uphold their own culture. They should not feel pressured to be assimilated into the minority cultures,” Maharaj said.

executive director of the National Urban League. “It was huge,” she said during a recent panel discussion.

Overall, about 60 percent of Americans eligible to register actually voted in 2012, according to data compiled by Michael McDonald of George Mason University. That would be about three points below the 2008 turnout, with much of the decline coming among White voters.

The precise final number won’t be known until New York state completes its vote count, which has been slowed by the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy.

Blacks 13 percent of voter turnout The number of voters from minority groups rose in November’s election, a key factor in Barack Obama’s re-election. But those numbers went up for disparate reasons. Among Latinos and Asians, population growth has steadily driven up the number of

voters. Turnout rates also have gone up, but remain significantly lower than those of the population as a whole. The nation’s Black population, by contrast, has remained steady, but the number of Black voters has continued to go up because of higher turnout rates.

Blacks make up about 12 percent of the U.S. population but were 13 percent of the voter turnout, according to exit polling. Whites made up about 71 percent of the voter-eligible population and 72 percent of the turnout, the exit poll indicated.

The large black turnout was critical to Obama’s victory in several swing states, according to a recent analysis by Ruy Texeira and John Halpin of the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank.

Their analysis pointed to Ohio, in particular, as a state in which an increase in the black share of the vote proved decisive.

Very few hotels sold out for January inauguration FROM WIRE REPORTS

President Barack Obama attracted millions to Washington D.C. when he was first inaugurated in 2009, but observers say that this time around may be a bit different.

Although he’s making history for a second time, being the first African-American president elected for a second term, fewer people, something around 600,000 to 800,000 visitors are expected to attend.

In 2009, hotels were sold at an average for $600 a night. But it’s not quite like that this time around.

“Very few hotels are actually sold out at this point, so there’s a lot of availability,” said Elliott Ferguson, the CEO of the tourism bureau Destination D.C. And according to the New York Times, the White House is mindful of the economy, so the 2013 inaugural festivities will also be smaller than in previous years.

TED RICHARDSON/RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER/MCT

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk down Pennsylvania Avenue as they wave to the crowd on Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

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HEALTH

52

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JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

paths to fitness

A year’s worth of tips for taking small steps to health

BY RENE LYNCH LOS ANGELES TIMES (MCT)

This is the year you will resolve to ditch the diets, the “all or nothing” mentality and the “no-pain, no-gain” fitness goals. This is the year you will resolve to use common sense to eat less junk food, move more — and have fun doing it.

Remember what it was like when you were a kid and you thought nothing of playing tag for hours on end? That spirit still lives. You just need to wake it up.

Maybe with a high-energy Zumba workout or Shaun T’s “Hip Hop Abs,” done in the privacy of your own home. Or by walking your dog while listening to a Dan Brown thriller.

Instead of embarking on yet another diet, why not try to lose roughly one pound a week by creating a modest 500-calorie deficit each day. That’s easily accomplished by slashing about 250 calories from your diet (the equivalent of five Oreos) and burning about 250 calories through exercise, such as a brisk two-to-three-mile walk. You can do that easy.

Move more Here are 52 tips for each week of the year, but we know we’re just scratching the surface.

1. You “work” all week. No wonder you don’t want to “work” out. Find a way to move more and have fun doing it. Take a Zumba class. (Many studios will let you take your first class free.) Even if you never go back, it will redefine your definition of exercise.

2. You know that lazy, sluggish feeling you get when you drink alcohol? That’s your metabolism slowing to a halt.

3. Adopt an avatar. James Bond? Lara Croft? Put it in charge of slaying your food cravings. Or pretend you’re the Terminator and someone is standing between you and your workout.

4. Buy a pedometer. Slowly work your way up to 10,000 to 15,000 steps a day. Parents can make it a game with kids: The person with the most steps for the day gets out of dish duty or

earns more console time.

5. Gardening and heavy-duty housework, like cleaning out the garage, do count.

Post goals 6. Write a long list of all the fun, sexy, sassy reasons you want to achieve your fitness goals. (“I want to rock a bikini!” “I want biceps worthy of the cover Men’s Health.”) Make copies of that list and stash them everywhere. Your wallet. Your car. Your kitchen. Review when weakness strikes.

7. Recognize: Six packs are made in the kitchen, not the gym. If you have only 30 minutes, you’re better off using that time to prep the following day’s breakfast and lunch than working out.

That’s right. We just gave you an excuse to skip a workout, but only if you use that time wisely.

8. Jump on the boutique gym bandwagon. Try a funky, fun fitness haven, where the low-impact, calorie-torching workout happens in a room full of cuttingedge elliptical machines. The classes fly by.

9. Eat all the raw, non-starchy vegetables you can stand.

10. Exercise while doing household chores. Put in a load of laundry before you press “play” on a fitness DVD, and pause partway through to make the washer-to-dryer transfer. Or plan dinner around a casserole that bakes while you work out in the living room.

Don’t overthink it 11. Give up extreme thinking.

Don’t give up chocolate for 2013.

How about: Give up bingeing on chocolate in 2013, and instead resolve to enjoy it in moderation.

12. Ask yourself a magic question: “How can I reach my health and fitness goals and enjoy the process?” You don’t need to answer the question. Let your brain percolate on it. (Credit motivational guru Tony Robbins.)

13. Got a tablet? Download a movie and prop it on a treadmill at the gym. The average movie should get you through four 30-minute walks.

14. Stop trying to be Julia Child come dinner time. Store-bought

Don’t overthink dinner. A store-bought rotisserie chicken + bagged salad equals dinner.

PATRICIA BECK/DETROIT FREE PRESS/MCT

Financial analyst Ardalia Jackson of Detroit uses a low speed treadmill last year at work to get in some exercise. rotisserie chicken + bagged salad equals dinner. A corn tortilla quesadilla + bagged salad equals dinner. A grilled steak + bagged salad equals dinner.

15. Use social media. Find fitness fanatics to follow and draft off their enthusiasm to bolster your resolve. Use Twitter to announce your goals and ask followers to hold you accountable.

Take a walk 16. Find more ways to move at work. Stand at your desk or while you’re on the phone. Instead of a stuffy meeting room, chat with a colleague during a brief walk.

17. Home workout DVDs can get expensive. Band together with some like-minded (and trustworthy) friends or co-workers: Invest in a few DVDs and swap them every month to keep things interesting.

18. You absolutely, positively have no time to work out? How about a 10-minute walk — five minutes in one direction, then turn around — in the morning, at noon and when you get home at night? Be careful, though. You just might inspire yourself.

19. Register to walk a half marathon. You can download free training programs online.

20. Don’t you wish someone would pay you to get in shape?

Pay yourself. Put $5 in a jar every time you work out. Or every time you bring a healthful, delicious lunch to work. If you work out three times a week and take lunch two times a week, you’ll be sitting on a sweet $1,300 come the 2013 holiday shopping season.

Play with the kids 21. Your two best fitness buddies: Your kids and your dog.

Walk to parks and just have fun.

Kick a soccer ball around. Play Frisbee. Tag. Fly a kite. You won’t just burn calories, you’ll model healthful habits for your kids.

22. Playing tourist in your hometown — crawling museums, hiking scenic trails, strolling boardwalks — is a blissful way to add steps to your pedometer.

23. Earn your dessert. Craving ice cream? Make it a single scoop that comes at the halfway point of a four-mile round-trip walk. And then enjoy every creamy bite.

24. Create a private Daily Mug Shot account and commit to taking a picture of yourself every day in 2013. (Men go shirtless, women in a sports bra.) Take a spin through those photos when you need encouragement. And just imagine the photo gallery at year’s end.

25. Read fitness magazines that will inspire you with new workouts (and not depress you with ridiculously skinny models).

Read fitness blogs 26. Scour the Web for fitness blogs written by people like you, and bookmark them. The next time you feel like skipping a workout, tap into that community for motivation.

27. Parents: You do more for your children than for yourself.

Use that to your advantage! When you find yourself reaching for a doughnut, think of your kids: Do you want to saddle them with a morbidly obese, Type 2 diabetic mom or dad? That’s right. Step away from the doughnut.

28. Do some year-end, rearend projections. If you slash your Oreo consumption in half from eight cookies a week to four, you’ll save more than 11,000 calories and lose nearly 4 pounds.

29. If you have a salad bar at work, use it. Bring a protein from home — grilled chicken, hardboiled eggs, tuna — and drop it onto some salad bar greens.

30. Many people plan weekday meals and go wild over the weekend. Plan weekend meals too. If you are meeting friends for a celebratory dinner on Saturday night, make sure the rest of your weekend meals stick to your program.

Don’t skip meals 31. Let co-workers take the elevator. You take the stairs. (Pretty soon they’ll be following you.)

32. Keep a food journal, but don’t beat yourself up about the findings. Instead, like a detective, use the journal to spot bad habits and find a way to gently correct them.

33. Do not skip meals. Ever. If you miss breakfast, there’s an extremely good chance you will end up overeating at some point during the day.

34. Prepare for the apocalypse.

Have healthful snacks, such as almonds or beef jerky, in your desk drawer. In your glove compartment. In your purse. In your gym bag.

35. Supermarket survival tips: Just don’t buy it and don’t shop hungry. If you don’t put it in your cart, you can’t devour it at 3 a.m.

And how many times have you purchased chips and scarfed half of them before you pulled the car into the driveway? (Or is that just me?)

Get enough sleep 36. When you hear the candy dish at work calling you, ask yourself, “Will that get me closer to my goals?”

37. Download books, especially thrillers and mysteries, for working out.

38. Get a good night’s rest. You are more likely to make poor food choices and skip workouts when you’re tired and cranky. Plus, your body needs the rest when it’s worked out regularly.

39. Most Americans eat 250 to 300 grams of carbohydrates a day, the equivalent of 1,000 to 1,200 calories. The national Institute of Medicine recommends 130 grams. Look for small, easy ways to cut carbs. Eat the burger with half the bun. Scoop up hummus with cucumber slices.

40. When you splurge, splurge smart. Example: Those stale, store-bought cookies at the holiday party? Not worth it. Homemade holiday cookies from Mom? Enjoy in moderation.

Pray, meditate 41. Don’t drink your calories.

Reach for water instead of sugary drinks.

42. Find ways to relieve stress that do not involve food. Pray.

Meditate. Exercise.

43. Take small, steady steps toward slashing your diet of processed food. Read the labels of anything you’re considering buying. If you see ingredients you cannot pronounce, or lots of sweeteners, put it down and walk away.

44. Sugar makes you want more sugar. That has nothing to do with self-control. You’re not weak.

You’re human. And ask yourself: Do you want to control what you eat or do you want what you eat to control you?

45. Get mad. Get mad at all the ads that bombard you with enticements to eat and drink yourself silly. Get in the habit of noticing those cues, and come up with a mantra to silently repeat to yourself when you see them, such as, “I am not a billy goat. I don’t eat trash.”

46. What’s your favorite music?

That’s what you should be working out to. Turn down the volume on the fitness DVD and work out to your own score.

47. If you don’t like running and weights, don’t do them. A perfectly good fitness regimen can revolve around yoga.

48. Would you like someone to scare you into eating fewer carbs?

Read “Wheat Belly” by Dr. William Davis.

Read calorie counts 49. If you do a lot of casual or fast-food dining, read the calorie counts. Instant appetite suppressant.

50. If you tend to watch too much TV, make a deal with yourself: no screen time till the workout is done.

51. Consider your routines.

How can you fit in some “flash fitness”? Can ride your bike to work one day a week? Get your fruits and vegetables during a long stroll around the farmers market?

Park your car two blocks from the dry cleaners?

52. Realize that maybe the real reason you eat too much junk food is because … you’re normal.

Our lives are filled with more stresses and demands than ever. Sad but true, food is one enjoyable thing we can do for ourselves each day. Maybe the best resolution of all for 2013 is to find a healthy way to bring more joy into your life.

Stoj

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

FINEST & ENTERTAINMENT

Meet some of

FLORIDA'S

finest

submitted for your approval

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Think you’re one of Florida’s Finest?

E-mail your high-resolution (200 dpi) digital photo in casual wear or bathing suit taken in front of a plain background with few distractions, to news@flcourier. com with a short biography of yourself and your contact information. (No nude/ glamour/ fashion photography, please!) In order to be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age. Acceptance of the photographs submitted is in the sole and absolute discretion of Florida Courier editors. We reserve the right to retain your photograph even if it is not published. If you are selected, you will be contacted by e-mail and further instructions will be given.

jas royale

Hairstylist Jas Royale of Marietta, Ga., has been modeling for the past two years while completing her certification for Paul Mitchell schools. She enjoys fashion photography as well as bathing suit and lingerie. She currently does promo and print work for many companies as well. Jas can be reached at Jnicole135@gmail.com or www. facebook.com/jasroyale.

Credit: Kerwin Davis Photograpy

cristopher Born in Jamaica, Cristopher Rhoden, 21, has been living in America for 12 years in the St. Petersburg area. He plans on attending the U.S. Air Force. Contact Christopher at mongotree16@hotmail.com.

Halle Berry, Chaka Khan to be honored by BET ASSOCIATED PRESS

Actress Halle Berry and musician Chaka Khan will be honored at the 2013 BET Honors.

Basketball star Lisa Leslie, music executive Clarence Avant and religious leader Bishop T.D. Jakes also will be celebrated at the Jan. 12 event in Washington at the Warner Theatre. The special airs Feb. 11.

BET Honors highlights African Halle Berry Americans performing at top levels in the areas of music, literature, entertainment, education and more.

Maya Angelou was among the honorees at this year’s BET Honors. First Lady Michelle Obama presented her award.

Actress Gabrielle Union will host the special. Performers will be announced at a later date.

Chaka Khan

HEATHER CHARLES/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT

Julia Hudson smiles as her sister, Jennifer Hudson, and Jennifer’s son, David Otunga Jr., make a “grinch face” during the Julian D. King Gift Foundation Christmas Toy Giveaway at the Ray and Joan Kroc Center in Chicago, on Christmas Eve. The sisters helped to hand out toys during the event.

Jennifer Hudson, sister answer tragedy with massive toy giveaway

BY ELLEN JEAN HIRST CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MCT)

For the fourth Christmas Eve since her son’s murder, Julia Hudson along with her sister, singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, tried to create something positive out of her family’s tragedy.

The Hudson sisters and volunteers gave Christmas gifts to thousands of youngsters on Dec. 24 through a toy drive organized by the foundation Julia Hudson started to honor her son, the Julian D. King Gift Foundation.

“It’s a blessing to be able to give back to where you came from,” Jennifer Hudson said. “To turn something so sad into such a blessing.”

In October 2008, 7-year-old Julian

King, along with the Hudson’s sisters’ mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were shot and killed.

William Balfour, Julia Hudson’s exhusband, was convicted of the murders and sentenced in July to three life sentences.

50,000 toys Julia Hudson subsequently started the foundation and toy giveaway “to kind of help us heal,” she said on Christmas Eve. She and her sister greeted thousands of children who went to the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in the South Side West Pullman neighborhood for a little Christmas cheer.

“The best part is just seeing the hap-

py faces of the kiddies,” Jennifer Hudson said.

A line started forming at 3 a.m. and eventually stretched into the community center’s parking lot, where families stood bundled in the cold. The families, some with tiny babies, were ushered into waiting rooms where they sat, in some cases for hours, before making it to a room where each child chose one toy, then were given a board game and either a teddy bear or a ball.

Organizers said the toy drive had 50,000 toys to give away this year, the most ever. WGN-TV, which like the Chicago Tribune, is owned by the Tribune Co., collected more than 30,000 toys for the giveaway.

Pilar Sanders: Deion was abusive EURWEB.COM

Everyone knows the Sanders family business since Pilar and Deion called their 14-year marriage quits. It’s been nasty, ugly, and embarrassing to say the least.

They’ve been in a hot battle over the $250 million estate and custody of the children and all that stuff that comes along with divorce. Besides that, the two have been publicly ridiculing each other – Deion called his soon-to-be official ex-wife the “ultimate gold digger” in interviews Pilar Sanders and on social networking sites.

Recently, however, Pilar decided to open up about their relationship and alleged abuse.

“Most recently, every picture on the web would show that my arm was broken and he busted my thumb in attempts to knock me out, kill me, yeah,” she told Cherryontop.com. “And maybe, perhaps, people will believe it more so now, that, unfortunately, they were seeing this season.

“The very drastic increase of athletes, football players who snap, and unfortunately, take their lives and other people’s lives with them. It’s not that far off, it’s not uncommon among athletes. It’s very, very, very not uncommon when you speak with other NFL wives, football wives, athletes’ wives.”

Further, she said Deion lied about Pilar and a friend jumping on him while at the house during their separation. Instead, she said he attacked them and allegedly broke her arm.

FOOD

TOj B6

TOJ

JANUARY 4 – JANUARY 10, 2013

FROM Family Features

ll across the country, food lovers are cooking up something wholesome and flavorful. They are making a commit­ment to eating better on their own terms by making more meals at home. They are finding that home cooking with real ingredients is inherently healthier — and it’s surprisingly easy. With a few simple changes, you can make a big difference in the healthfulness of everyday meals.

“By adding herbs and spices, it’s easy to make healthy foods more flavorful. And it’s a smart way to freshen up your family’s standby recipes while gradually reducing re­liance on sugar, sodium or fat,” said Chef Mark Garcia, of the McCormick Kitchens.

For freshened-up family favorites, try making these simple, healthful changes that are simply delicious:

A

• Replace the heavy breading on chicken tenders with a flour mixture spiced with paprika, black pepper and oregano. Bake it in the oven to reduce fat and calories.

• For a healthier take on beef stew, use low sodium broth and serve over whole grain pasta or brown rice instead of mashed potatoes.

• For a delicious twist on traditional chili, try using bone­less, skinless chicken breasts with black beans and corn. Pump up the authentic Southwest flavor with cumin, garlic powder and red pepper.

Get more recipes like these at www.mccormick.com.

You can also join the conversation on Twitter @ Spices4Health.

Hearty Beef Stew with Roasted Vegetables Roasting the vegetables before adding them to the stew brings out delicious caramelized flavors.

Makes 6 servings Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes 4 cups cubed winter vegetables (cut into 1/2-inch pieces), such as carrots, butternut squash, parsnips or sweet potatoes 1 medium onion, cut into 1/2inch pieces 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 1/2 pounds boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes 3/4 cup chicken broth 3 McCormick Bay Leaves 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Thyme Leaves 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Black Pepper, Coarse Ground 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup dry red wine or apple juice 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes Oven-Fried Chicken Boneless chicken is seasoned and oven-fried for great taste that’s quick and easy enough for any day of the week.

Makes 5 servings Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes 1/4 cup flour 1 1/2 teaspoons Lawry’s Seasoned Salt 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Oregano Leaves 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Black Pepper, Ground 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast halves or thighs 1/4 cup milk 1 tablespoon butter, melted Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch baking pan with no stick cooking spray.

Mix flour, seasoned salt, oregano and pepper in shallow dish. Moisten chicken with milk. Coat evenly with flour mixture.

Place chicken in single layer on prepared pan. Drizzle with melted butter.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

Test Kitchen Tip: For quicker, more uniform cook­ing, slice thick chicken breasts in half hori­zontally or pound chicken breasts thin.

Flavor Variation: Use 1 teaspoon McCormick Perfect Pinch Italian Seasoning or Rosemary Leaves, crushed, in place of the oregano.

Nutrition information, per serving: Calories: 190; Fat: 6g; Carbohydrates: 6g; Cholesterol: 80mg; Sodium: 457mg; Fiber: 0g; Protein: 28g

Chicken Chili with Black Beans and Corn Make a batch of this Super Spice-rich chili for your next get-together. It doubles easily if you are expect­ing a crowd.

Makes 8 (1-cup) servings Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes 1 cup chopped green bell pepper 1 cup chopped onion 1 tablespoon McCormick Paprika 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Oregano Leaves 1 teaspoon McCormick Cumin, Ground 1 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Red Pepper, Crushed 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (15 ounces) great Northern beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained 1 cup chicken broth 1 cup frozen corn Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken, bell pepper and onion; cook and stir 6 to 8 minutes or until chicken is lightly browned. Add paprika, oregano, cumin, garlic powder and red pepper; mix well.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to boil.

Reduce heat to low; simmer 20 minutes.

Nutrition information, per serving: Calories: 188; Fat: 4g; Carbohydrates: 20g; Cholesterol: 37mg; Sodium: 413mg; Fiber: 6g; Protein: 18g

Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss vegetables and onion with 1 tablespoon olive oil on large baking sheet. Roast 20 minutes or until vegetables are golden.

Meanwhile, cook and stir beef in remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in large skillet on medium-high heat 5 minutes or until beef is browned. Add roasted vege­tables, chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, pepper, salt and wine. Bring to boil. Re­duce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened. Remove bay leaves from stew before serving.

Serve stew over mashed potatoes.

Test Kitchen Tip: If desired, add 2 McCormick Bay Leaves to cooking water when preparing fresh or instant potatoes. For instant mashed potatoes, remove bay leaves before adding potato flakes. For fresh potatoes, remove bay leaves before mashing.

Nutrition information, per serving: Calories: 406; Fat: 18g; Carbohydrates: 33g; Cholesterol: 59mg; Sodium: 745mg; Fiber: 6g; Protein: 28g